Silva Storai on Her 30-Year Journey With Indian Equestrian Sport, the Rise of Embassy International Riding School, and Why India Is Ready for a New Equestrian Era - Exclusive

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Bengaluru, Dec 8: Few people have shaped Indian equestrian sport as profoundly, and as quietly, as Silva Storai, the Director of Embassy International Riding School (EIRS) and one of India's pioneering women jockeys.

For nearly three decades, she has lived, trained, mentored and fought for a sport that once stood on the periphery of Indian consciousness. Today, with equestrianism growing faster than ever, Silva continues to be at the heart of its transformation.

In an freewheeling conversation with myKhel at the stunning International Academy in Bengaluru, the Italy-born Silva spoke candidly about her remarkable journey, the evolution of EIRS, India's shifting sporting culture, and what lies ahead for Indian equestrian athletes.

A Riding School Born Before Its Time

Silva's journey with the Group began in the mid-1990s, when she was approached by Group Chairman Jitu Virwani to establish a riding facility-at a time when equestrian sport in India was virtually unheard of outside army circles.

"We started in 1996. Back then, hardly anyone understood what equestrian sport even meant," Silva recalls. "It was a very difficult and challenging role because the culture simply wasn't ready. For most families, the only priority was academics."

The shift, she says, began only about 10-15 years ago. As India's economic landscape strengthened, exposure to global sport grew, and parents began valuing alternative careers, riding slowly entered the mainstream.

Why Bengaluru? "The City chose me."

Silva didn't plan to build her life here; destiny placed her in the city. After arriving in India as a young girl in 1978, she moved to Bengaluru in the early 1990s to pursue professional racing.

"I became a jockey in 1993 and Bengaluru became my base. While I was racing full-time, I slowly began developing the riding school here. The city eventually chose me."

Her racing career, one marked by resilience, grit and danger, spanned 15 years. Silva remains the only woman jockey to have won two Derbys and a Guineas in India, despite the immense physical risks she faced.

Fouaad Mirza and the Turning Point for Indian Equestrian Sport

A major breakthrough for the sport came when Riding School sponsored Fouaad Mirza, who would go on to win India's first equestrian Asian Games medal in decades.

"Sponsoring Fouaad 14 years ago opened a new journey. When he won the Asian Games silver and the team medal, it changed everything. Parents realised medals are possible, representation is possible. That visibility was a big shift."

The impact was immediate. Clubs multiplied. Horses improved. Families started investing. What was once a niche elite activity is now an aspirational sport. When Silva began, Bengaluru had just two clubs. Today, there are 17-18 and more emerging in Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Is Equestrian an Elitist Sport? Silva's Honest Answer

She doesn't romanticise it. "Look, it is an elite sport. Horses, equipment, training, travel, everything is expensive. But we try to break that barrier in our own way."

Silva shares that children of long-time workers at EIRS are often trained, supported and developed if they show promise.

"We take them a long way. But yes, it demands sacrifices from any normal household. The sport and the country's economy go hand in hand," she said with sense of pride.

Parents and Children: A New India, A New Sporting Mindset

Silva believes the greatest cultural shift of the last 15 years is the alignment of families with their children's passions. "Earlier it was always about what you must do - academics. Now parents follow what the child wants to do. There's more well-being, more openness. You see kids dedicating themselves fully to sport, which was unheard of during my early years here."

This shift, she says, has fuelled the sport's rapid growth in recent years.

Federation Challenges: "Reform is inevitable."

Silva speaks frankly about structural issues, especially with sports federations. She explains, "We come from an era where sports were not prioritised. Changing that mindset and building a federation purely for sport - without politics - will take time."

She acknowledges India's aspirations of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics, but insists governance reform is crucial. He insists the Army officials who have been running the federation have done a great job for many years, but civilian involvement is essential for the sport's growth. "A proper sports code, democratic voting, these things matter. The change is inevitable," she added further.

Asian Championships: India's Rising International Presence

Silva lights up when speaking of India's equestrian performance at the the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship 2025 in Pattaya. India wrapped up their most successful outing in Pattaya with a historic tally of five medals.

The Indian contingent delivered two medals in Eventing, including individual gold for TAGG athlete Ashish Limaye - who is also sponsored by EIRS - and team silver, along with three silvers in Dressage. For a nation that did not participate when the championship was first held in 2019, this performance marks a turning point.

"Our team won five medals in Pattaya. Two years ago, they won Asian Games gold. These are elite competitions with Olympic-level riders. It's huge, but unfortunately not publicised enough."

"To see India win medals at this level, against riders we normally only meet at the Asian Games or Olympics, it's remarkable," she said. "This week has shown how far Indian equestrian sport has come."

Silva's Journey to India: "I felt this was my country."

Silva's connection with India is deeply emotional. She arrived at age 12, grew up in Kodaikanal, and never left.

"India is too big to describe in a few words. But I felt immediately this was my country. Yes, I'll always remain a foreigner in some ways, but in my heart, I am very Indian."

Her life changed when she became a jockey, a sport she describes as cut-throat, demanding and dangerous. But it shaped her toughness and her philosophy as a trainer and mentor.

She credits the support of Group Chairman Jitu Virwani for her long-standing success. On Virwani's passion and support she said, "He loves horses deeply. He's invested in this sport without taking anything back-his children don't ride either. It's pure passion. That purity is what defines Riding School."

Women in Equestrian: "The horse is the real athlete."

Silva believes equestrian sport is uniquely egalitarian. "Men and women compete equally. The real athlete is the horse. You need fitness, skill, balance, but strength comes from your horse. It gives girls a fair, equal chance."

She notes that today, there are nearly as many girls as boys in riding schools, a dramatic change from her early years.

The Equestrian Premier League: A Game-Changer for India

Launched under Silva's leadership, the Equestrian Premier League (EPL) has revolutionised competition structure in India. Earlier, riders trained all year for a single national championship in December, meaning horses were leased, training cycles were inconsistent, and development stagnated.

"With the EPL, riders compete every month for three days. That consistency changed everything i.e. fitness, technique, selection quality. South India is now ahead of North India in many areas." The EPL, she believes, has played a central role in India's recent international success.

What Equestrian Teaches Children

Beyond medals and technique, Silva believes equestrian sport shapes character. "It teaches humility. One day you're on top, next day you fall. The horse doesn't perform for you unless you respect it. Children learn patience, empathy and responsibility. These values last a lifetime."

What's Next for Riding School?

The coming year will focus heavily on international competitions and expanding their unique leadership-with-horses program for corporates.

Although Silva refrains from discussing it in detail now, she hints at a transformative initiative, "It's something new in India. Horses reveal what's inside people. You can't fake it in front of a horse. Give me some time. I will give you a beautiful story on that."

A Legacy Built on Passion, Grit and Horses

As our conversation winds down, one thing is clear: Silva Storai is far more than a trainer or administrator. She is a pioneer, a builder, a believer, and perhaps the single most influential civilian figure in India's modern equestrian landscape.

Through education, discipline, compassion and world-class training, she has built not just a school, but an ecosystem, a movement.